New long products mill for Romania

UMB Steel srl, a Romanian steel manufacturer based in Bucharest, has commissioned SMS group to deliver Europe’s first Continuous Mill Technology (CMT 700) to its site in Oțelu Roșu. The new long products mill will be integrated into the existing steelmaking complex and will operate in a continuous endless process, therefore guaranteeing minimal carbon emissions and high production efficiency. UMB Steel aims to meet the increasing demand for sustainable construction materials, primarily supporting the UMB group’s highway construction operations.

The CMT 700 will enable an annual production of approximately 700,000 tonnes of straight bars, compact coils, and wire rod. SMS will deliver the plant on a single source basis, delivering mechanical, electrical and automation systems to integrate the new caster and rolling mill into the existing Oțelu Roșu steelmaking complex.

The innovative CMT technology upgrades the existing plant infrastructure by enabling the uninterrupted production of long products from scrap by continuously feeding cast products from the melt shop to the rolling mill.

High-carbon construction grades
The CMT 700 mill will reduce CO₂ emissions up to 30% since no natural gas is required for billet reheating. The new plant is designed for a flexible production mix thanks to the combination of a vertical compact coil (VCC) system for coils weighing up to eight tons, a wire rod line for high-carbon construction grades produced in a billet-to-billet process, and a straight bar finishing area.

The new continuous caster incorporates several technological features to maximise product quality and optimal process control, including Conrex mould tube for high-casting speeds and Condrive mould oscillation to increase product surface quality. The induction heating system between caster and rolling mill sets the appropriate rolling temperature during the multi-strand billet-to-billet production process.

The new mill will also incorporate the TBK REBARgauge, an autonomous laser measurement system that enables early detection of dimensional anomalies and reduces material waste by maximising production tolerances. This project marks the first collaboration between UMB Steel and SMS and is set to strengthen UMB Steel’s position in the Romanian long products market while demonstrating a significant step towards sustainable steel production in Europe.